Ponderings for People who Place Pastors on Pedestals

Sometimes  people have the tendency to put Pastor's on Pedestals.  I have a strong conviction that as soon as a pastor is placed on a pedestal people better be prepared to be disappointed and the Pastor steer people from putting him on one.  I was shocked when I went to fallenpastor.com and read some eye opening statistics.  I would like to share them with you…

·        1500 pastors in America leave the ministry EACH MONTH due to moral failure     (this does not count those who leave out of frustration and discouragement).

·        50% of Pastor’s marriages will end in divorce.

·        80% of Pastors and spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their roles as pastors.

·        70% of Pastor’s fight depression.

·        Almost 40% have admitted to having an extra-marital affair since the beginning ministry.

          These stats tell me three things… 

                     1) Pastor’s are just as susceptible to sin as any other person.  

                     2)  Pastor’s are human and have no place on a pedestal.  

                     3)  Pastor’s need to be prayed for. 

          The irony is most people who are placed on pedestals don’t want to be there nor do they ask to be put there. May we be reminded of the words of Isaiah 42:8 which is frank and to the point where God says He will not share his glory with anyone.  Praise, worship, and pedestals belong to God and God alone.  

Why Did God Create Us?

Why did God create us?  The answer is two-fold.  First, He created you because He loves you.  This makes you very special.  Second, the apostle Paul writes in Colossians 1:16,

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”

We were created for Him!  We can think that God exists for us, but on the contrary we actually exist for God and His delight.  All things we created by Him and for Him.  Now we can get offended by this and think that since God created humanity for His benefit and not ours is a selfish thing.  But we need to get over ourselves and realize that all of creation (humanity included) is part of God’s big picture.  This big picture or story if you will was created for God and He has invited all of us to be part of this story.  He has not chosen us to be the main characters, but he has chosen us to play a big part in this story.  That’s something that should instill an enthusiasm in your heart and soul.  The infinite God who created all things and is bigger than all of creation has chosen little ole you and me to be part of His BIG story.

Consider the words of Job 10:9 – 12 

“Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust? Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?  You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.”

          God has taken great care in creating you.  He has not given up on you and He does not want us to give up on Him!  He did not cast us away, but found value in each one of us and He has poured His love down on us, so let’s seize the day and live our lives for Him.

Am I A Mistake?

“How did I get here?”

“Why am I here?”

“What is the meaning to life?”

“Is my life significant?”

“Do I have a purpose?”

“Is there more to life than what I am currently experiencing?”

          These are some questions you may have right now and there are times I ask them myself.  They are good and meaningful questions with no easy answer.  But they do have answers.  

          How did we get here?  Did life just begin as a flash of lightning hit a puddle of mud and created a living organism and after billions of years humanity evolved from this organism?  Are we the descendants of fish, monkeys and half man half ape creatures?  Personally I see the Bible holding the answer to this question.  Genesis 1:26, 27 says,

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

          I want to key in on a word that is used a couple of times… created.  How did you come to be?  God created you; that’s how.  But God didn't just throw together a bunch of sludge and POOF! you came in to existence.  No, we are told that God created man in His image and in His likeness.  He took great care in creating you.  You are in fact a creation of the Almighty God and you are created in His image.  Isn't this amazing?  When understand and believe this it adds so much value to you as a person.  

Think of it this way.  If you are indeed an evolved ape, fish, monkey man who came into existence by accident and chance; then what value is there to you life?  You are an accident with no purpose or value... You are an accident of nature.  But when you come to terms with the biblical truth that you are a special and intricate creation of God it adds so much more value to who you are.   You are not an accident.  You are a child of God created in his image.

This is amazing, and it excites me!

A Christmas and New Years Greeting

It is Christmas Eve Day.  I am in my office today and reflecting on the wonderful Christmas services we had yesterday, last night and the many years of ministry here at the Congregational Church.  I think back to 2007 when I accepted the call I had no idea what to expect since I had never been a “senior” Pastor before.  It has been an adventure to say the least.  It has also been a learning experience and a blessing.  I will readily admit as Freddie Mercury from Queen says, "And bad mistakes... I made a few"  but I think (by the power of the Holy Spirit) I did many things right.  Needless to say God has been gracious to me over the years.

I am so thankful for the friends I have made over the years and especially those who have stood with me through the joyous and the difficult times.  You have been a wonderful support and I am grateful for all the blessings you have been to me.  I am also thankful for the church family who has served my family and me in many ways that have been huge blessings for us as well. Thank you for your patience and understanding as I serve as a young and growing Pastor who is still learning the ropes.  Most of all thank you for being the Body of Christ who is determined to show the love of Jesus to a world that so desperately needs Him. 

I pray that everyone who is reading this begins the New Year committing to spend time with God every day and make 2013 the year where you will grow closer to our Lord and fall deeply in love with his word.  I also pray you have a VERY Merry Christmas and continue to keep your focus on Jesus who is (as Stryper says) "The Reason For the Season.   

Four Great Reads of 2012

There were a lot of excellent books released in 2012 (most came out in the past few months).  I have put together a list below with a short description of each book to share with anyone who is interested.  Most of the books are geared toward Pastors but certainly are fitting (and I would encourage reading) for lay leaders, seminary students and congregational members.  Here is my best of 2012 Christian Reading List...
 

4)  Accidental Pharisees - Larry Osborne (Zondervan):  Believe it or not we all have a hidden Pharisee in us and most of us do not even realize it.  Larry Osborne exposes the dark side to having an overzealous faith in Jesus which can leads to the sins of pride, arrogance and self righteousness.  Osborne introduces the reader to nine of the most common traps that many believers can fall into.  These traps may lead to a new form of legalism that can lead to the sins of pride, legalism and ultimately hypocrisy.  

I would highly recommend this book for any Christian.  As I read this book my eyes were opened to the subtle trap of becoming a Pharisee over being a genuine follower of Jesus Christ.

3)  Deep & Wide - Andy Stanley (Zondervan):  Are Church leaders spending too much time, money and energy trying to attract Christians to their churches?  Pastor Andy Stanley of North Point Church in Atlanta believes Churches should be spending more time creating churches and worship experiences that will attract non-Christians.  In his book Deep & Wide Stanley gives the reader a glimpse into how their church creates an atmosphere for creating a church that the unchurched will love to attend.  He writes, "I want people to fall in love with the Author of Scripture. And while we can't make anyone fall in love, we can certainly arrange a date."  

I enjoyed this book immensely but I had to read it with "reigns on".  Naturally I was highlighting and underlining like a madman but I know I could not implement all that Pastor Andy is suggesting without causing WW III in the Church.  All of North Point's ideas are great but they are certainly not a "fix all" for all churches.  There are a lot of great nuggets to take away from this book.  

2)  Center Church - Timothy J. Keller (Zondervan):  Timothy Keller takes almost a completely different approach to Church growth that Andy Stanley does.  His answer to the question, "How does the church adapt to the post Christian culture without compromising our position in Christ?"  Keller believes it is by keeping the Gospel at the core and allowing it to change and transform individuals through the power of the Holy Spirit.  However he does not by any means suggest the church cut its ties with culture; instead we are to find the good of it and apply the Gospel to it.

I would recommend this book for Pastors, Elders, Leaders and Lay Leaders.  Center Church packs a lot of information in it so it must be consumed slowly and thoughtfully.

1)  Dangerous Calling - Paul David Tripp (Crossway):  Paul David Tripp has legitimate concerns for the pastoral culture. In his book Tripp writes about his concern for the spiritual lives of pastors, the people who train them, call them to their churches, how they relate to them, and the restoration process.  The author talks straight forward to Pastors, leaders and seminary professors about the dangers of church expectations of pastors, the training process for Pastors and the importance of the Pastor taking care of his spiritual life.

This book is PURE GOLD and should be read by all Pastors.  I am actually on my second reading of this book.  However I think church leaders, seminary professors and congregational members can gain a lot insight from this book as well.

A Good Reminder of the Good News

I am currently reading Tim Keller's book Center Church.  I came across these thoughts that I would like to share with anyone who is actually reading this blog...

     1)  "The Gospel is good news, not good advice.  The Gospel is not something we do, but something that has been done for us and something we must respond to."
     2)  "The Gospel is good news announcing that we have been rescued or saved."
     3)  "The Gospel is news about what has been done by Jesus Christ to put right our relationship with God."

This is just a simple reminder that the Good News is indeed Great News!

Verbal Regurgitation

Have you ever had someone come up to you and verbally rip you up one side and down the other?  Maybe someone had an issue(s) with you and they kept it penned up for a long period of time and one day they just unleash on you.  I've had this happen more times than I care to admit.  I call it verbal regurgitation.  Verbal regurgitation (my term and my definition) is the time when someone comes up to you and verbally pukes all over you by giving you a piece of their mind (not caring how hurtful or bitter they may be coming across) and when they are done they kind of wipe their mouths off and go, "There, now I feel better."  All along you are standing there, shocked at what just happened with puke (verbal, not literal) dripping off your body.

Unfortunately this happens so often and I find it disheartening because Jesus spoke about the words we speak and how they reveal our true selves.  "But whatever comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.  This is what defiles a person..."  I find it interesting that the Bible speaks very clearly about how we are to speak to each other, treat one another and build each other up but we have become so good at doing just the opposite.  I sometimes think, "It's no wonder people aren't flocking to Jesus.  We can't even care for others we call brothers and sisters."

James says wild animals, reptiles and sea creatures can all be tamed by humans, but the tongue cannot be tamed by any human being.  We say what we say because we have no control over that little 20 oz. muscle in our mouths.  Can we use this as an excuse though?  Can we justify the hurtful words and cursing of others simply by saying we have no control over our tongues?  Or by saying, “I have to say what I say (regardless of who I am harming in the process) otherwise I wouldn't be true to who I am.”  The fact remains we are responsible for every word that proceeds from our mouths and we need the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to keep us from verbally regurgitating on our brothers and sisters.